Mind Your Language: The power and purpose of auxiliary verbs in grammar

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are fundamental components of English grammar. While often overshadowed by main verbs, auxiliary verbs play a crucial role in forming tenses, asking questions, expressing modality, and conveying emphasis. In this article, we explore the significance, types, and functions of auxiliary verbs, highlighting their versatility and importance in shaping the structure and meaning of sentences in the English language.

Understanding Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs are verbs that assist the main verb in expressing various grammatical aspects. They typically precede the main verb in a sentence and contribute to conveying tense, mood, voice, aspect, and emphasis. Unlike main verbs, auxiliary verbs do not convey specific actions or states on their own but rather modify or complement the meaning of the main verb.

Different Types

There are two primary types of auxiliary verbs: Primary and modal auxiliaries.

Primary Auxiliaries: These include “be,” “have,” and “do.” They are used to form tenses, questions, and negatives in English sentences.

Examples:

Present tense: She is singing.

Past tense: They have finished.

Question: Do you like coffee?

Negative: He does not eat meat.

Modal Auxiliaries: Also known as modals, include verbs like “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and “must.” They express various shades of meaning such as ability, obligation, permission, and possibility.

Examples:

Ability: She can speak French.

Obligation: You must finish your homework.

Permission: May I borrow your pen?

Possibility: It might rain tomorrow.

Functions of Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs serve several important functions in English grammar:

Forming Tenses: Auxiliary verbs are essential for constructing various tenses, including present, past, future, and perfect tenses.

Example:

Present perfect: They have completed the project.

Past progressive: She was reading a book.

Forming Questions: Auxiliary verbs are used to form yes/no questions and information questions by inverting the subject and auxiliary verbs.

Example:

Yes/no question: Are you coming to the party?

Information question: Where did you go yesterday?

Expressing Modality: Modal auxiliaries convey the speaker’s attitude towards the action or event, expressing modality such as possibility, necessity, permission, and obligation.

Example:

Possibility: It may rain later.

Necessity: You should study for the exam.

Forming Negatives

Auxiliary verbs are used in forming negative sentences by adding “not” after the auxiliary verb.

Example:

Negative: They do not like spicy food.

According to Ritu Valluri, TGT English at Apeejay School, Kharghar, “The auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs. They help the main verb that comes after them. The student needs to be informed about the purpose of the auxiliary verbs. To teach the pupil how these verbs are related to the main verb

The best way to teach largely depends on the age group, yet activity-based learning is the most effective

* Identification of the auxiliary verb within a sentence
The class is divided into 2 groups A and B
Group A reads out a sentence containing an auxiliary verb
Group B identifies the auxiliary verb by raising the correct placard containing the auxiliary verb

* For “to be” verbs, try:

1.     To Be Bingo – Make bingo cards with different forms of “to be” (am, are, is, was, were). …

2.     To Be Four Corners – Label each corner of the room with a form of “to be.” Read sentences aloud and have students go to the corner with the right verb.

3.     To Be Verb Challenge – Split into teams.

 The best way to remember is to make pupils perform activities based on the topic

Teachers can prepare various worksheets with varied activities like:
# Underline the auxiliary verbs in the given sentences. # Fill in the blanks with the appropriate auxiliary verbs.
#Frame sentences with the given auxiliary verbs.